Velma L. Barto

Velma Louise Barto, 83, died Wednesday, November 10, at Mercy Regional Health, Manhattan. A rosary service was held at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, November 14 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Washington. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 15, at the church. Father David Metz and Father Charles Steier officiated. Sheila Ouellette played the organ while the Cantor, Christy L'Ecuyer, sang "On Eagles Wings”, “Take Our Bread”, “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman” and “Celtic Farewell”. The pallbearers were Dianne Smith, Lou Kern, Bill Kern, Paul Keller, Glenda Keller, Todd Baker, Annette Baker, Carol Alexander and Dennis Alexander. The honorary pallbearers were Guy Steier, Rita Steier, John Steier, Dale Steier, Eddie Amici, Larry Steier, Edwin Steier, Judy Grutsch, Denise New, Jimmy Amici, Father Charles Steier and Harry Peterson, Jr. Burial was in the Washington City Cemetery. Velma Louise Barto was born on October 14, 1927 to Peter P. and Rosa (Straub) Steier at Clara, Kansas. She attended the Clara school. On June 12, 1948 she was united in marriage to Frank Barto Jr. at Mount Ayr, Iowa. No children were born to this union. Velma worked at various jobs but mostly served as a waitress. She traveled with Frank to as many places as she could as an Air Force wife. When she could not travel with Frank, she lived in a trailer house behind the previous Standard Oil Station in Washington. After retirement, they moved to Washington to be near family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, on March 14, 2001; parents; brothers, Melvin, Edward, Leo and Romanus; and sisters, Agnes Wilson, Viola Amici, Gladys Keller and Theresa Smith. Survivors include her sisters, Lois Steier of Washington, Lorene Peterson of Topeka; brother, Joe Steier of Dunedin, Florida; nephews and nieces. A memorial fund has been established to KSDS or St. Augustine's Altar Society. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Velma L. Barto, please visit our flower store.